For Election for 2009 only - This Memorandum cancels all previous issues.

I. GENERAL REGULATIONS

The Rhodes Trustees have instituted two (2) Rhodes Scholarships tenable at the University of Oxford to be awarded to candidates from the Commonwealth Caribbean as follows:
  1. The Jamaica Rhodes Scholarships, available to candidates from Jamaica only; and
  2. The Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarship, available to all Caribbean candidates, excluding Jamaicans:
After election, a successful candidate has still, however, to be found a place at an Oxford College. There is no guarantee of a place and the award of the scholarship is not confirmed by the Rhodes Trustees until the Scholar-Elect has been accepted for admission by the College. Election to the Scholarship, once confirmed, is normally for two years but the scholarship may be held for one year only, depending upon the degree programme pursued by the scholar.

The following points should be noted carefully:
  1. Scholars can enter Oxford for -
    • A one-year taught Masters degree, followed by another in their second year subject to satisfactory outcome of the first year;
    • A two-year MPhil.Subject to Department agreement on the basis of performance in the MPhil, a third year of funding may be given to convert the MPhil into a DPhil (but see importan caveat in 2 below);
    • A DPhil by direct entry through the P(robationer) R(esearch) S(tudent) status with a third year of funding dependent upon satisfactory report from supervisors;
    • A BA with Senior Status (two years). The Trust will not fund more than two years for a BA.


    Scholarships are for two years. Scholars may leave after a one-year Masters, but this is not encouraged. A third year of funding is available at the complete discretion of the trustees, ony to those (1) who have gone directly into DPhil research, (2) who have completed an MSc or MSt in one year as a preliminary to doing research in the same field, (3) who have completed the two-year MPhil and are seeking to convert to DPhil.

  2. However, from the entering class of 2006, the University is requiring four years of fees from anyone entering a DPhil having previously done a Master's in Oxford. The requirement does not extend to those doing a DPhil straight from the beginning (via PRS) who are still liable for only three years' of fees. The Trust will not pay fees or stipend for a fourth year and Rhodes Scholars-elect should be fully aware of that liability. In cases where a fourth year liability exists, the Trust will only accord a third year of funding where it is shown at the end of the second year that the Scholar can finance from elsewhere the liability for the fourth year.

    It is clear that Scholars can be admitted to DPhil(PRS) in the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the Division of Medical Sciences. The Division of Social Sciences and the Division of Humanities require all graduate students to go via the Master's route and, therefore, Scholars entering those areas will be liable for four years of fees it they wish to pursue a DPhil.

  3. The Trust does not give scholarships which allow study for the MBA.

  4. Scholarships are awarded for entry in the following October. The Trust will not normally allow deferral, except in the case of students studying medicine who have to complete residency requirements in their own country immediately following their medical degree. Any Scholar-elect who cannot come in the October following their election or who has not been accepted into a Department/Faculty and/or College will normally forfeit the Scholarship.


The Rhodes Trustees will pay all University and college fees, exclusive of board and lodging, direct to the college concerned. The Scholar will receive a personal allowance of no less than £11,000 per annum for the duration of the Scholarship, which is expected to take care of board and lodging and other maintenance costs.

The Trust will assist the Scholar to meet such travel expenses as are incurred to and from Oxford, provided a letter of explanation as to how travel is being arranged is addressed directly to the Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford for his consideration.

Formerly, only unmarried candidates prior to the end of a scholar's first year of tenure. Since June 1995, marriage could apply for Rhodes scholarships, and a scholarship was forfeited by marriage is no longer a bar to applying for, or holding, a Rhodes Scholarship. However, married candidates should bear in mind that the scholarship stipend is intended to support one person, and that the Trust takes no financial responsibility for the support of a scholar's spouse. Moreover, spouses who are not British citizens may find it difficult to obtain permission to undertake paid work in England. 2. CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY
  1. One of three alternatives applies:

    2. Either (i) The candidate must be a citizen of those countries that have gained independence from Great Britain (Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent);.

    Or (ii) The candidate must be a Commonwealth Dependent Territories citizen of Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, Anguilla, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands;

    Or (iii) One of the candidate's parents must have been domiciled and resident in one or more of these territories for at least five years immediately preceding 1st January in the year of the candidature, or, in the event of both being dead, was domiciled and resident in one of these territories for at least five years prior to his or her death.

    The Candidate must:

  2. Have been educated in one or more of the above territories for a least five years between the ages of nine and twenty.
  3. Have passed his or her Nineteenth (19th) birthday and not passed his or her Twenty-fifth birthday (25th) by 1st October, 2009.
  4. Have undertaken academic training sufficiently advanced to assure the completion of a Bachelor's Degree by 1st October, 2009.

    5. Candidates with dual citizenship may not apply in more than one of the countries of which they are citizens.

Where there is doubt, the Trustees reserve complete discretion to determine the eligibility or otherwise of the candidate.

3. BASIS OF SELECTION


    Subject to confirmation by the Rhodes Trustees election for a Rhodes Scholarship will be made by the Committee of Selection.

    In considering applications, Committees of Selection will have regard to those qualities which Cecil Rhodes expressly listed in order to define the Scholar he desired:-

    Proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard is the first quality required to show integrity of character, sympathy for and protection of the weak, the ability to lead, and the energy to use their talents to the full.

    Mr. Rhodes believed that the last of these qualities was the best tested through participation and success in sports. Participation in varsity sports is not essential if applicants are able to demonstrate in other ways the physical vigor which will enable Rhodes Scholars to make an effective contribution to the world around them. Such a contribution Mr. Rhodes clearly expected in expressing the hope that Rhodes Scholars would come to: "esteem the performance of public duties as (their) highest aim."

    Financial need does not give a special claim to a Rhodes Scholarship nor should the question of race or religion be a disqualification therefor.

    The Committee will summon to a personal interview such candidate it considers necessary to see. Save in the most exceptional circumstances, no candidate will be appointed without such an interview.

    In the absence of suitably qualified candidates, no election will be made by the Committee.

    The interviews will take place in Jamaica, for the Jamaica Rhodes Scholarship; and, in Barbados for the Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarship. Candidates invited for interview residing outside of Barbados may apply to the Secretary for financial assistance to travel from their country of origin within the Caribbean region to Barbados and return, provided that the travel is not fuunded by their University or other sponsorship source.

4. METHOD OF APPLICATION

A candidate is required to submit the following material:
  1. A birth certificate (certified copy)
  2. "O" level, "A" Level, CAPE or CXC certifications or other certified evidence of subjects studied and examinations passed (including the original certificate of having passed an examination which fulfils the Oxford admission requirements);
  3. In case of University degrees, an original of a transcript by the Registrar or Chief Administrative Officer should be submitted.
  4. A signed statement by the candidate (of approximately, 1,000 words in length) making a declaration of general interest and activities pursued, the course of study it is proposed to follow at Oxford, and the character of the work aimed at in later-life. (If the candidate has left school before applying for a Rhodes Scholarship, then it should be stated what occupation has been pursued).
  5. Reference to six persons, of which number, at least four can speak to the candidates recent academic performance (In addition to including their names in the application, candidates are now required to contact their intended referees directly and request that letters of reference be forwarded by them directly to the Secretary. It is the responsibility of each candidate to follow-up with their referees to ensure that the letters have been sent off to the Selection Committee. Please see "Guidance for referees" below. The Secretary reserves full right to contact referees with a view to confirming the meaning or veracity of any information supplied);
  6. A medical certificate on the prescribed form supplied herewith;
  7. Three photographs, unmounted, approximately 6cm. X 6cm. Amateur snapshots will not be accepted;
  8. Three copies of a resume (not more than two foolscap pages long) setting out the candidate's educational history, examinations passed, achievements and awards and personal information.



 5. PROCEDURE AFTER ELECTION

5.1 On receiving notice of provisional election the Scholar must immediately write to the Warden, Rhodes House, Oxford stating the College to which the Scholar desires to obtain addmission and the course to which he/she is applying. Special forms for this purpose will be supplied to the Scholar-elect by the Secretary of the Selection Committee, and it is important that it be forwarded to Rhodes House without delay. The Warden's Telephone is OXFORD (01865 270902) and fax number is (01865)270914.

5.2 The Scholar will begin residence at Oxford, in October 2009. Postponements cannot be sanctioned save in exceptional circumstances and with the express permission of the Rhodes Trustees.

5.3 Subject to the consent of the College to which admittance has been gained, the Scholar may read for the Oxford B.A. in any of the Final Honour Schools. Alternatively, subject to the consent of the College and the relevant Faculty, the Scholar, if qualified by previous training, may read for a higher degree such as M. Litt. B.C.L., B Phil. M.Sc., M. Phil., or D. Phil.

5.4 All Final Honour Schools2* at Oxford lead to the B.A. degree. Candidates who have obtained a University degree, provided that they have pursued at the University in question a course of study extending over three years at least, are eligible for senior status at Oxford which exempts them from all preliminary and intermediate examinations, and makes it possible for them to take their Final Honor School, and B.A. degree in two years.

5.5 Even though a scholar is permitted, by University rules, to take an Honor School in two years, a College may advise that a third year is academically advisable in the particular case, in such a case the Trustees will provide a third year of funding conditional on good work during the first two years.

5.6 A medical student of any University may be admitted to Senior Status before a final degree has been taken, provided that the course has extended over at least three years and all examinations incidental thereto have been passed.

5.7 Scholars are expected to be full time students during the tenure of the scholarship.

5.8 Tenure of other awards in conjunction with a Rhodes Scholarship is not permitted without prior consultation with the Warden, Rhodes House.

5.9 The first installment of the Scholarship will be paid at the beginning of the Scholar's first term at Oxford. No request for earlier payments will be considered.

5.10 Information about Oxford Colleges and courses will be found in the Oxford University Prospectus and Graduate Prospectus and on the University's web site www.ox.ac.uk. The Oxford University Examinations Degrees. A copy of the Examination Decrees will be issued to the Scholar-elect after election. Information about the Rhodes Trust generally may be found at its website, www.rhodestrust.com .

5.11 Candidates should see to it that four out of his/her six referees write about his/her academic preparation, ability and attainments (as well as the other Rhodes Scholar virtues).

5.12 Any candidate hoping to attempt clinical research at Oxford must have fulfilled all the necessary obligations - the Medical Council requires evidence of having fulfilled the necessary professional experience; that is, before granting temporary registration the Council requires them to have completed overseas an approved internship of twelve months duration or equivalent appointments. Scholars who desire to pursue a course in Clinical Medicine are advised to write the Warden immediately after selection.

5.13 Two samples of written work must be submitted by applicants wishing to read for any degree (B.A. or Advanced) in any Arts or Social Studies subject (i.e. in any subject except Psychology or a medical or scientific subject). The samples of written work should be related to the subject you hope to study. Candidates for graduate degrees in Philosophy must submit essays on philosophical subjects. They should be of approximately 2,000 words each and may be essays or part of a longer work. The samples should be in English and preferably typed.

5.14 Copies of this memorandum and further information can be obtained from the Secretary Mr. Peter Goldson, 21 East Street, Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. Tel: (876) 922-5960  or Fax: (876) 922-7575 who acts as Secretary to the Committee of Selection or from THE WARDEN, RHODES HOUSE, OXFORD OX13RG, ENGLAND Telegraphic address, "RHOTOTRUST, OXFORD." Tel: (01865) 270-902